De La Soul
Every song they've done is great, but here's 30 of my favorite ones.
Lots of emotions lately about De La! A few hours before the Superbowl just a couple of weeks ago, I got the awful news scrolling thru Twitter that Dave, aka Trugoy the Dove, from De La Soul, my favorite rap group by a mile, passed away. I couldn’t believe it. He was 54. I sent it to a few of my friends that I know are De La fans and we all just sat and waited until it was confirmed, which it was just shortly after.
For those that don’t know, and I won’t go into the whole history here because it’s been documented for years, but most of De La’s superior music catalog isn’t on streaming platforms. That changes today, 3/3/23. After what seems like 100 years in the making, all the legal stuff has been taken care of and their music will finally be unleashed to the world, making millions and millions of people who have never heard them happy today.
It sucks Dave had to die right before this happened. It’s like, super sucky TBH. I got into De La Soul back when I was working at Tower Records in Massapequa in 1999. A co-worker, Eddy Wheby, turned me onto them. I already really liked Tribe and of course knew of De La but for some reason never really dove into them. And I’m so happy I did because they instantly became my favorite group then and still to this day.
I have all the physical CD’s and everything already downloaded and uploaded to my YouTube Music library so I listen to De La literally every single day. Even at least one song. That’s how much they mean to me. I need some De La in my life daily. It makes me happy. It eases my mind. It slows everything down for me when I need a break. I’ve seen them I think 8 times in concert (possibly 7 because one time we all waited until about 1:30am but I had to take the train back to LI at like 2am. Pos just had a baby so the 8pm show was delayed a long time. I watched about 5 minutes then had to bounce!)
I’m genuinely super excited for people that never heard most of their songs to finally listen to them. I compiled this list I’m about to show you on Twitter like 4 years ago just for fun when the news came out that their catalog would finally be released (it took 4 years!!!). So hopefully this helps anyone diving in for the first time. Honestly, you can literally pick any song on any album and you’ll like it. I promise. They’re that good. But here’s some thoughts from me too. Hope you like it.
We're going to start with their debut album, "3 Feet High & Rising" which still gets heavy rotation in my house daily. I'll give a quick thought why I love the particular song I’m talking about here and then a verse or 2 by either Pos or Dave.
1. Intro - Not a song, but the first of many skits you'll hear. The originators of silly ass skits on rap albums. "My favorite drama movie is Bloodsucking Freaks just like your momma..." I had to add this because skits were a big part of De La's early albums.
2. The Magic Number - The first song you're going to hear and it still hits something deep inside me. The first De La song I ever heard and it hooked me right away. "Don't get offended while Mase do-si-do's your daughter."
3. Eye Know - Probably my favorite De La song ever. It's crazy that a song on their first album still holds up today and is still perfect in every way. "Hold my hand and we'll pick my plan-tation of daisies for a bouquet of soul."
4. Potholes In My Lawn - The hypnotic beat of Potholes hooks you in immediately. It's even got some yodeling in it. "Or better yet call 9-1-1, and when they get here I inform them I'm the Plug 1..."
5. Say No Go - The funkiest track on '3 Feet High...' BY A MILE. If you don't air guitar when playing this track then just turn it off and go take a nap I guess. "Run me a score from the Funky Four Plus one More --it's the joint!--rewind that back."
6. Buddy - Meany meany meany meany meany. We got Jungle Brothers & Q-Tip here (w/ Latifah, Phife, & Monie Love on the remix). "Buddy buddy, don't you know you make me go nutty, I'm so glad that you're not a fuddy duddy, Not too skinny and not too chubby...soft like Silly Putty."
7. D.A.I.S.Y. Age - DA Inner Sound Y'all. This track has such a unique cadence and flow from Pos and Dave. "Amityville. Resident. Resident supported by the speaker view, want to feel it in your shoe let me show you how."
8. Plug Tunin' - The debut single. It's got a bumpy, goofy beat to it and really shows what De La is all about. "Vocal is local so believe that, this chant shan't rely on the strong lap, trying and live so you best realize, that the gift that I present, I say gift wrap."
The 2nd album! “De La Soul Is Dead” is a lot of people's favorite album by the group. It has such a crazy amount of great songs (literally all of them).
9. Pease Porridge Hot - This song starts with a funny skit over the beat. Another odd flow from them that only they can pull off. "My tribe, my tribe, my tribe is known as Native Tongues. Consists, consists, consists of Jungle, Quest and others."
10. A Rollerskating Jam Named "Saturdays" - This is special for me 'cause we would play this when closing up Tower Records in Massapequa. It's one of the funnest, happiest rap songs ever. "Five days you work, one whole day to play. Come on everybody wear your rollerskates today."
11. Bitties In the BK Lounge - This song is ridiculous. Has 3 different styles to it too. And it's just hilarious. "You're as booty as they come and you dress like a geek. My shoes cost more than you make in 2 weeks."
12. Let, Let Me In - Another favorite. It's just so great. Pos and Dave trying to be slick to some ladies. "By the way, what's your name? Just kidding, I know it's Renee. No, it isn't? Word, word, well check it out. Check, check it out."
13. Pass The Plugs - This was my favorite song on "De La Is Dead" for a long time. It's still a favorite. They slow it down a bit and it has such a peaceful beat and vibe to it. "4th P is passed, I am known as...Prince Paul!..Yeah thanks Mase."
14. Keepin' The Faith - There's too many amazing songs on this album. If you don't whistle this beat forever after hearing this then you got problems. "Diamond in the back, sunroof top, waiting for the credit card so she can go and shop."
We're onto their 3rd album, “Buhloone Mindstate”. Which is overflowing with some of the best songs they ever did.
15. En Focus - One of the most underrated tracks on this album. Pos gets into it pretty early and the greatness doesn't stop when Dave jumps in on verse 2 either. "I got multiple stabs of jazzy, sassafrassy as I caught the fame of soul, years after mama had me."
16. Ego Trippin' (Part Two) - Great video. Great song. Probably the most popular track on their 3rd, masterpiece of an album. "I got the platinum rust, so don't even fuss, cause DJ Paul, he's down wit us."
17. Area - De La is always big on representing Long Island, specifically Massapequa (where I grew up!) and Amityville. "I got soul you see I'm swimming in the De La. I'm in my hood, man, my manhood worries ya."
18. I Am I Be - The chillest, most laid back De La track ever. Made me love saxophone. "Or some tongues who lied, and said we'll be natives to the end, nowadays we don't even speak."
19. Breakadawn - Probably my favorite track on this album & possibly a top 3 all-time by them. This song just makes you feel good. "I'm gonna let you know, once again, that De La Soul is sure to show you we will hit the charter harder than the normal rappin fool, a 1-2, a 1-2."
For the final section we're going to get into "Stakes Is High" which is now their 4th incredible album in a row...
20. Intro - The intro of their 4th album knocks me off my seat every time I listen. "Major more soul than James' "Escapism", De La Soul is here to stay like racism."
21. Supa Emcees - A dope braggy song by De La. "I heard you want to fight me, with your words on stage, so Mase pulls that instrumental from the jam YOU made, and as he starts cutting what you sold, I'll talk all over your tones as if my name was Pete Rock or Sean "Puffy" Combs!"
22. The Bizness - De La wasn't known for many guest artist appearances very often, so that's why this one with Common is so great. Just a great track. "Peep game like a refe-ree, in sole control of my desti-ny, In the best of, three out of five, whip anybody ass at NBA Live."
23. Wonce Again Long Island - More representing Long Island goodness. "That's my job as a supa emcee, I'm from Long Isle, mobile, make it worth your while, If the jam needs motion I'm the one to dial."
24. Brakes - One of my favorite songs (This album is so damn good it's unfair.) "Well it's silly of me to think that I, would never get a chance to see a piece of this pie, I sat dead in front of speakers thinkin' that could be me, anticipatin' open microphones so I could MC."
25. Betta Listen - The hits keep coming. And this verse just makes me laugh every time. "Something about her lit me up like July, And with them onions in the pants I couldn't help but cry."
26. 4 More - This is the one song I think I've NEVER skipped when it comes on shuffle. It's damn near perfect. Zhane brings it too. "It's that brown man from Long Island and shores. Got a way with women, so I get away with yours."
27. Big Brother Beat - Oh what's that? You some De La AND Mos Def? Done. "Now this goes out to all area cliques, From 718 to 516, Remember to keep the De La in the mix, We straight butter hits, we straight butter hits."
28. Down Syndrome - They tease this song earlier & then when it finally comes on you're happy. "I be a piece of the east coast, so give a toast to Plug Wonder why back in the day who soaked his words in ginger, So when I ran a phrase in June you didn't catch it til December."
29. Stakes Is High - Probably the most popular song De La's ever done. It's a little hard. Totally dope. & a track that needed to be done at that time. "The Instamatic focal point bringing damage to your boroughs, be some brothers from the east with some beats that be thorough."
30. Sunshine - This has to be one of their most slept on songs because it comes right after one of their most popular songs ever. "De La is the crew that you must hear, but please don't rush the stage, even though them stakes are really high we're really not here to raise."
Again, you can take any song and I can make a case why every single song they’ve put out is a banger. But here’s 30 to get you started to show you what this legendary group is all about. I hope Pos and Mase keep going. I hope they keep putting out new music. It will NEVER be the same without Dave, and the fans understand that. Maybe they’ll just call it quits like the Beastie Boys did when MCA died. I don’t know. They’ve had stuff in the works for a few years now so hopefully we get new songs to add to this already Hall of Fame, legendary group.
This is great, man. I knew a few singles, but I'd been looking for a way "in".